Sighting systems for rifle grenades



G. WYSER' SIGHTING SYSTEMS FOR RIFLE GRENADES May 11,1965

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. :5. 1961 I T' T I \MH N M 1 I ATTORNEYS May11, 1965 e. WYSER SIGHTING SYSTEMS FOR RIFLE GRENADES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Aug- 3, 1961 United States Patent 2 Claims. ci. 42-1 The presentinvention relates to sighting systems for grenades to be launched by afirearm such as a rifle, such systems comprising a sight enabling therifleman to launch a grenade with the desired elevation by causing aline tangent to the body of the grenade to pass both through the targetand through a notch or mark carried by the sight and corresponding tothe distance of this target.

It has already been proposed to constitute such systems by a sightadapted to be removably secured to the grenade itself before it is to belaunched, preferably on one of the tail fins thereof. However, such anarrangement was unsatisfactory because the Iifleman, before fitting therear sleeve of the grenade on the barrel of the rifle, had to disposethe grenade in such manner that the fin intended to carry the sight wasto be vertical for launching, this condition being very diflicult andpractically impossible to be complied with. On the other hand, with somegrenade launching rifles, it was not possible to use grenades having asight secured to one of the tail fins of the grenade because this sightcame into contact with some elements of the rifle, such as the bayonetholder, which prevented a correct fitting of the grenade rear sleeveupon the rifle barrel.

The object of the present invention is to obviate these drawbacks.

The essential feature of this invention consists in providing suchsighting systems with a sight adapted to be secured in removable manner,before launching, upon a part of the rifle itself.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafterdescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings, given merely byway of example and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a grenade provided with a sighting systemaccording to the invention, the sight being shown in the position itoccupies for transportation and storing of the grenade.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section on the line IIII of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show, from the rear, three modifications of the systemof FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on the line VIVI of FIG. 7, of a sightingsystem according to the invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view on the line VII-VII of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the sight mounted on the rifle.

FIG. 9 is a side view with parts in longitudinal section, correspondingto FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatical view showing, in dotted lines, the sightinglines passing through the grenade launching sight and tangent to thegrenade body.

According to this invention, grenades such as that shown at 1 are to belaunched by means of a rifle the barrel 2 of which is provided at itsfront end with a launching extension 3 on which can be fitted the tailsleeve 4 of the grenade, this tail being provided with fins 5.

The sighting system comprises a sight 6 made for instance of a plasticmaterial and in the form of an elongated plate, of such dimensions that,when it is fixed to a suitable part of the rifle, the notches providedin said plate permit of giving the necessary elevation to the rifle. Forthis purpose, this plate forms a kind of frame in the form of anelongated rectangle and the Patented May 11, 1965 lower smaller side 7of this frame forms a notch 8 corrseponding to a distance of 50 metersof the target from the rifle whereas the upper side 9 of the frame formsa notch it) corresponding to a distance of 150 meters, an intermediatepart 11 of the frame being provided with a notch 12 corresponding to adistance of meters.

Advantageously, for transportation and storing, every grenade carriesits own sight 6 removably secured laterally, in a detachable manner, onsaid grenade. in the construction of FIGS. 1 and 2, the portion 9 of thesight carries a projection 13 adapted to be engaged with some frictioninto a corresponding hole 14 provided in the side wall of the grenade ata place such that when projection 13 is engaged into hole 14, sight 6 isheld along the side wall of the grenade, extending parallelly to theaxis thereof, along a portion of this side wall where the sight isprotected against shocks when the grenade is lying on a fiat surface.

In the modification of FIG. 3, sight 6 may be held in transportationposition by means of spring lugs 15, said sight 6 then fitting against aportion of the tail of the grenade located between two fins thereof,sight 6 then having a curved cross-section.

In the modification of FIG. 4 sight 6 is held by spring means 16 againstone of the faces of a fin 5.

In the modification of FIG. 5, sight 6 is fitted in a housing formed inone of the fins 5 which is accordingly made hollow and of suitablelength.

When the grenade is to be launched, sight 6 is separated from thegrenade to which it was secured in a removable manner and it is fixed toa portion of the rifle in the vicinity of the front end of the barrelthereof. Advantageously, sight 6 is secured to the bead sight protector17 of the rifle.

To ensure this fixation, it suflices for instance to provide the lowerside '7 of sight 6 with a projection 18 adapted to be fitted into ahousing 19 extending through the upper portion of protector 1'7. Sight 6can thus be held in position for firing, but it is however ejectedwithout danger for the rifleman, due to the recoil of the rifle.

It will be understood that, for launching purposes, sight 6 is alwayscorrectly positioned without requiring any special care from therifleman. On the other hand, the tail 4 of the grenade may be in anyposition whatever with respect to the barrel without the fins beingliable to come into contact with some portion of the rifle, such as thebayonet holder 20.

Finally, the sight will be fitted with the correct graduations, providedof course that it corresponds to the launching rifle that is used. Thus,since the rifleman uses for every grenade the sight 6 carried by it, hecannot use for a given grenade a sight graduated for a differentgrenade, as this could happen when the rifle carries several sightinggraduations between which the rifleman had to make a choice.

Advantageously, sight 6 is provided on one of the sides of the framethat it forms with a range finder scale 21 which permits of determiningthe distance of a target (for instance a tank) the height of which isknown.

In a general manner, while I have, in the above descrip' tion, disclosedwhat I deem to be a practical and eflicient embodiment of my invention,it should be well understood that I do not Wish to be limited thereto asthere might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form ofthe parts Without departing from the principle of the present inventionas comprehended within the scope of the accompanying claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a rifle grenade, a rifle capable of launching saidgrenade fitted thereto, a. supplementary said grenade fitted to saidrifle, and means for detachably securing said sight to said grenade forstoring and transportation therewith, said means comprising a projectioncarried by said sight, the side wall of said grenade being provided witha hole in which said projection can be engaged with some friction.

' 2'. In combination, a rifle grenade having a tail, a rifle comprisinga barrel, a grenade launching extension carried by the front end of saidbarrel, on which extension said grenade tail can be fitted, a sight forbullet firing carried by said barrel at the rear of said grenade barrelto surround said sight, a sight corresponding to said grenade for thelaunching thereof ,by means of said rifle, a downward projection carriedby the lower end of said second mentioned sight, said sight protectorbeing provided in its upper part with a housing adapted to accommodatesaid projection.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/53 Haase.

2,788,599 4/57 Brandt 42-1 2,968,870 1/61 Brandt. 3,012,349 12/61Donatsch 42-1 launching extension, and a sight protector carried by said15 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

2. IN COMBINATION, A RIFLE GRENADE HAVING A TAIL, A RIFLE COMPRISING ABARREL, A GRENADE LAUNCHING EXTENSION CARRIED BY THE FRONT END OF SAIDBARREL, ON WHICH EXTENSION SAID GRENADE TAIL CAN BE FITTED, A SIGHT FORBULLET FIRING CARRIED BY SAID BARREL AT THE REAR OF SAID GRENADELAUNCHING EXTENSION, AND A SIGHT PROTECTOR CARRIED BY SAID BARREL TOSURROUND SAID SIGHT, A SIGHT CORRESPONDING TO SAID GRENADE FOR THELAUNCHING THEREOF BY MEANS OF SAID RIFLE, A DOWNWARD PROJECTION CARRIEDBY THE LOWER END OF SAID SECOND MENTIONED SIGHT, SAID SIGHT PROTECTORBEING PROVIDED IN ITS UPPER PART WITH A HOUSING ADAPTED TO ACCOMMODATESAID PROJECTION.